When you accidentally bump into someone, or didn't quite hear what someone said, you can say Sorry. It's a common, easy word to use to apologize for minor things. You can also use it to express regret. For example, if someone tells you bad news, you can say "Oh, sorry om dat te horen." (Oh, sorry to hear that). This shows empathy and understanding, similar to how "sorry" is used in English in such contexts. Additionally, it can be used to politely get someone's attention, like "Sorry, mag ik er even langs?" (Excuse me, may I pass?).
When using "sorry" in Dutch, it functions much like its English counterpart. It's a direct and common way to express regret or an apology. However, depending on the context, you might also hear or use other phrases. For a slightly more formal or emphatic apology, you could say "Het spijt me" (I am sorry), or "Mijn excuses" (My apologies).
§ Saying Sorry in Dutch: What Not to Do
You might think that saying 'sorry' in Dutch is straightforward, since it's the same word as in English. And you're mostly right! However, there are a few common pitfalls that English speakers fall into. Let's make sure you avoid them.
§ Mistake 1: Over-apologizing
In some English-speaking cultures, it's common to say 'sorry' for minor inconveniences or to preface a request. For example, 'Sorry, can I ask you a question?' In Dutch, this can sound a bit out of place or even overly dramatic. Dutch people are generally more direct. If you need to get someone's attention, a simple 'Excuseer' or 'Pardon' is more appropriate.
- Wrong Example
Sorry, mag ik een vraag stellen? (Sorry, may I ask a question?)
- Better Alternative
Excuseer, mag ik een vraag stellen? (Excuse me, may I ask a question?)
§ Mistake 2: Using 'sorry' as a noun or adjective
In English, you can say 'I feel sorry for him' or 'It was a sorry state of affairs.' You cannot use 'sorry' this way in Dutch. It's strictly an interjection for apologizing. If you want to express sympathy, you'd use phrases like 'Ik vind het zielig voor hem' (I feel sorry for him/I think it's pitiful for him) or 'Ik leef met je mee' (I sympathize with you).
- Wrong Example
Ik voel me sorry voor hem. (I feel sorry for him.)
- Correct Alternative
Ik vind het zielig voor hem. (I find it pitiful for him.)
§ Mistake 3: Not using 'het spijt me'
While 'sorry' is perfectly fine for minor apologies like bumping into someone, for more serious apologies, you should use 'Het spijt me' (I'm sorry / I regret it). This is a stronger and more formal way to express regret.
Het spijt me van mijn fout. (I'm sorry for my mistake / I regret my mistake.)
You can also combine them:
Sorry, het spijt me dat ik te laat ben. (Sorry, I'm sorry that I am late.)
§ Mistake 4: Not knowing when to accept an apology
When someone apologizes to you in Dutch, you can respond with 'Geen probleem' (No problem) or 'Geeft niet' (Doesn't matter/Never mind). For more serious apologies, a simple 'Oké' or 'Het is goed' (It's fine) can suffice, often accompanied by a nod or understanding look.
- Example Conversation
-
- A: Sorry, ik heb je beker omgestoten. (Sorry, I knocked over your cup.)
- B: Geeft niet. (Never mind.)
In summary, while 'sorry' is a useful word, avoid overusing it, don't try to make it an adjective or noun, and remember to use 'Het spijt me' for more significant apologies. Practice these distinctions, and you'll sound much more natural in Dutch.
趣味小知识
The Dutch word 'sorry' is a direct borrowing from English and is used identically. This shows the strong influence of English on modern Dutch. It's often used informally among friends and in everyday situations.
需要掌握的语法
Unlike in English, where "sorry" can be used for various situations from expressing regret to declining an offer, in Dutch, "sorry" is primarily used to express an apology for a mistake or inconvenience. For other situations, different phrases are used.
Oops, sorry! I spilled your coffee. (Sorry, ik heb je koffie gemorst.)
When you want to express a deeper regret or a more formal apology, you can combine "sorry" with other phrases like "Het spijt me" (I am sorry) or "Mijn excuses" (My apologies).
Sorry, het spijt me dat ik te laat ben. (Sorry, I'm sorry that I am late.)
To ask someone to repeat something or to get their attention, Dutch speakers typically use "Pardon?" or "Wat zeg je?" instead of "Sorry?".
Pardon? Ik verstond je niet. (Pardon? I didn't understand you.)
You can use "Sorry dat ik..." (Sorry that I...) to apologize for a specific action or event.
Sorry dat ik je heb onderbroken. (Sorry that I interrupted you.)
When declining an offer or politely refusing something, Dutch speakers often use "Nee, bedankt" (No, thank you) or "Liever niet" (Rather not) instead of "Sorry."
Wil je nog een kopje koffie? Nee, bedankt. (Do you want another cup of coffee? No, thank you.)
按水平分级的例句
Sorry dat ik te laat ben.
Sorry that I too late am.
A common way to apologize for being late.
O, sorry, ik zag je niet.
Oh, sorry, I saw you not.
Used when you accidentally bump into someone or don't notice them.
Sorry, kunt u dat herhalen?
Sorry, can you that repeat?
A polite way to ask for repetition.
Sorry voor het ongemak.
Sorry for the inconvenience.
A formal apology for causing trouble.
Sorry, maar ik ben het daar niet mee eens.
Sorry, but I am it there not with agree.
A polite way to express disagreement.
Mijn excuses, sorry dat ik je stoor.
My apologies, sorry that I you disturb.
Combining 'mijn excuses' with 'sorry' for emphasis.
Het spijt me, sorry voor de fout.
It pities me, sorry for the mistake.
Using 'het spijt me' (I regret it) alongside 'sorry'.
Sorry, is deze stoel vrij?
Sorry, is this chair free?
Used to get someone's attention politely before asking a question.
Sorry dat ik te laat ben, de trein had vertraging.
Sorry I'm late, the train was delayed.
Sorry, ik heb per ongeluk je voet gestampt.
Sorry, I accidentally stepped on your foot.
Het spijt me, ik wist niet dat dat jouw paraplu was.
I'm sorry, I didn't know that was your umbrella.
Here, 'het spijt me' is a more formal way to say sorry, often used for more significant apologies.
Oh, sorry! Ik zag je daar niet zitten.
Oh, sorry! I didn't see you sitting there.
Sorry dat ik zo ongeduldig was, ik had gewoon haast.
Sorry for being so impatient, I was just in a hurry.
Sorry, kunt u dat nog een keer herhalen? Ik heb het niet helemaal verstaan.
Sorry, could you repeat that again? I didn't quite catch it.
Ik wil me echt verontschuldigen voor mijn gedrag gisteren, het spijt me enorm.
I really want to apologize for my behavior yesterday, I'm very sorry.
'Me verontschuldigen' is another way to express a more formal apology.
Sorry dat ik je stoor, maar heb je even tijd?
Sorry to bother you, but do you have a moment?
小贴士
When to say 'sorry'
Just like in English, 'sorry' is used in Dutch when you want to apologize for a small mistake or inconvenience. Think of bumping into someone lightly or interrupting. It's a quick and easy way to acknowledge a small error.
Pronunciation of 'sorry'
The pronunciation of 'sorry' in Dutch is very similar to English. The 'o' sound is a bit more open, like in the word cot, and the 'r' is slightly rolled, but it's easily understood even with an English accent.
Alternatives to 'sorry'
For more serious apologies, you'll hear 'het spijt me' (I'm sorry) or 'mijn excuses' (my apologies). 'Sorry' is best for lighter situations. Remember, 'sorry' is a direct borrowing from English.
Dutch directness and 'sorry'
The Dutch are known for being direct. This means that sometimes an apology might not be as elaborate as in other cultures. A simple 'sorry' is often enough and appreciated.
Responding to 'sorry'
If someone says 'sorry' to you, common responses are 'geeft niet' (never mind) or 'maakt niet uit' (it doesn't matter). These are similar to saying 'that's okay' or 'no problem' in English.
Using 'sorry' with 'dat'
You can say 'Sorry dat ik te laat ben' (Sorry that I am late). This structure is useful for specifying what you are apologizing for. 'Dat' here means that.
Don't overuse 'sorry'
While it's good to be polite, overusing 'sorry' can sometimes dilute its meaning. Use it when genuinely needed, just like you would in English.
When asking for clarification
You can also use 'Sorry?' with a rising intonation to mean 'Excuse me?' or 'Could you repeat that?'. It's a quick way to ask for clarification, similar to 'Pardon?'
Combine with 'even'
You might hear 'Sorry, even...' (Sorry, just...). For example, 'Sorry, even een vraag' (Sorry, just a question). 'Even' here means 'just' or 'for a moment'.
No need for formality
'Sorry' is generally informal and can be used with anyone, regardless of their social standing. It's a very versatile and widely understood word in Dutch.
词源
Borrowed directly from English.
原始含义： Feeling regret or penitence.
Germanic (English origin)文化背景
The Dutch use 'sorry' very frequently, similar to English speakers. While there are more formal Dutch words for apology like 'het spijt me' (I am sorry) or 'mijn excuses' (my apologies), 'sorry' is perfectly acceptable in most casual and even moderately formal situations. It's common to hear it used for minor mishaps like bumping into someone or interrupting a conversation. It's often accompanied by a small, apologetic gesture or facial expression.
自我测试 48 个问题
Imagine you accidentally bump into someone on the street. What do you say in Dutch?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Oh, sorry!
You are late for an appointment. How do you apologize in Dutch?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Sorry, ik ben laat.
You spilled coffee on your friend's table. What do you say to apologize?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Oeps, sorry!
Why did the person say 'Sorry!'?
Read this passage:
Ik was te laat voor de bus. Ik zei: "Sorry!".
Why did the person say 'Sorry!'?
The passage states 'Ik was te laat voor de bus.' (I was too late for the bus.) which means they were late.
The passage states 'Ik was te laat voor de bus.' (I was too late for the bus.) which means they were late.
What did the man do?
Read this passage:
Een man viel en zei: "Oh, sorry!".
What did the man do?
The passage says 'Een man viel' (A man fell).
The passage says 'Een man viel' (A man fell).
Who is apologizing in this sentence?
Read this passage:
De hond at de koekjes op. De eigenaar zei: "Sorry!".
Who is apologizing in this sentence?
The owner is apologizing for the dog eating the cookies.
The owner is apologizing for the dog eating the cookies.
This sentence means 'Sorry, I don't speak English.' It's a common phrase for apologizing for a language barrier.
This means 'Sorry I'm late.' A simple apology for tardiness.
This translates to 'Oh, sorry! I didn't see you.' It's an apology for an accidental bump or oversight.
Choose the best response: Je stoot per ongeluk iemand aan in de winkel. (You accidentally bump into someone in the store.)
'Sorry!' is the appropriate apology when you accidentally bump into someone.
What is a common way to say 'sorry' when you want to politely disagree with someone?
'Sorry hoor, maar...' is a polite way to introduce a disagreement in Dutch.
Your friend tells you they can't come to your party. What would be a natural response from your friend to express their regret?
To express regret about not being able to come, 'Sorry, ik kan niet komen' is the most natural and polite response.
You can use 'Sorry' to apologize for being late.
Yes, 'Sorry dat ik te laat ben' is a common way to apologize for tardiness.
'Sorry' is only used for serious mistakes.
'Sorry' can be used for both minor and more serious apologies.
When someone says 'Sorry' to you, a polite response could be 'Geen probleem' (No problem).
If someone apologizes, 'Geen probleem' is a common and polite way to accept the apology.
Which of these is the most appropriate response if you accidentally bump into someone?
'Sorry!' is the correct and most common way to apologize when you accidentally bump into someone. 'Dank je wel!' means 'Thank you!', 'Tot ziens!' means 'Goodbye!', and 'Goedendag!' means 'Good day!'.
You spilled coffee on your friend's shirt. What would you say?
'Sorry, mijn fout!' (Sorry, my mistake!) is the most suitable apology in this situation. 'Lekker!' means 'Delicious!', 'Geen probleem.' means 'No problem.', and 'Wat jammer!' means 'What a shame!'.
Which sentence correctly uses 'sorry' to express regret for being late?
The correct construction for apologizing for being late is 'Sorry dat ik te laat ben.' (Sorry that I am too late.).
It is common to say 'sorry' in Dutch when you want to get someone's attention in a polite way.
Similar to English, 'sorry' can be used in Dutch to politely get someone's attention, much like 'excuse me'. For example, 'Sorry, mag ik erlangs?' (Excuse me, may I pass?).
In Dutch, 'sorry' can only be used for minor mistakes and not for more serious apologies.
While 'sorry' is often used for minor mistakes, it can also be used for more serious apologies, sometimes accompanied by a more detailed explanation of the situation or feeling of regret. However, for very formal or serious situations, other phrases like 'Het spijt me' (I am sorry/I regret) might be used.
When someone says 'Sorry' to you, an appropriate response could be 'Geen probleem'.
'Geen probleem' (No problem) is a common and appropriate response to an apology in Dutch, indicating that you accept the apology and there are no hard feelings.
Someone is apologizing for something that happened yesterday.
The speaker is saying sorry and clarifying it wasn't intentional.
A more formal apology for an inconvenience.
Read this aloud:
Zeg 'sorry, ik heb je tas per ongeluk omgestoten'.
Focus: omgestoten
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Oefen met de zin 'Het spijt me, ik was vergeten je te bellen'.
Focus: vergeten
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Herhaal 'Mijn excuses voor de late reactie'.
Focus: excuses
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
'Het spijt me' is a common way to say 'I'm sorry'. 'Echt' means 'really' and 'van gisteren' means 'from yesterday'.
'Ik wil mijn excuses aanbieden' means 'I want to apologize'. 'Voor de vertraging' means 'for the delay'.
This is a direct way to say 'Sorry that I made you wait'.
Someone has apologized and the apology has been accepted.
A sincere apology is being offered for hurting someone's feelings.
An apology for causing confusion with an email.
Read this aloud:
Ik wil mijn excuses aanbieden voor de onenigheid gisterenavond.
Focus: oniènigheid
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Sorry dat ik te laat ben, het verkeer was verschrikkelijk.
Focus: verschrikkelijk
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Het was mijn fout. Ik had beter moeten opletten.
Focus: opletten
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Stel je voor dat je per ongeluk iemands fiets hebt omgestoten. Hoe zou je je verontschuldigen en hulp aanbieden?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Oh, wat erg! Het spijt me zo. Ik heb per ongeluk uw fiets omgestoten. Kan ik u misschien helpen om hem weer recht te zetten of te repareren?
Je bent te laat voor een belangrijke vergadering. Schrijf een korte e-mail aan je collega's om je te verontschuldigen en de reden uit te leggen.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Beste collega's, mijn excuses voor mijn late verschijning bij de vergadering. Door onverwachte verkeershinder ben ik later dan gepland. Ik hoop op uw begrip en zal proberen de gemiste informatie snel in te halen.
Je hebt per ongeluk een geheim van een vriend verklapt. Schrijf een berichtje om je oprechte spijt te betuigen en te beloven dat het niet meer zal gebeuren.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Hé, ik voel me vreselijk over wat er is gebeurd. Het spijt me enorm dat ik je geheim heb verklapt. Het was absoluut niet mijn bedoeling en ik beloof je dat zoiets nooit meer zal voorkomen. Kun je het me vergeven?
Waarom verontschuldigde de directie zich?
Read this passage:
De directie heeft zich uitvoerig geëxcuseerd voor de recente communicatiestoornis die heeft geleid tot verwarring onder het personeel. Ze benadrukten dat ze de feedback serieus nemen en maatregelen zullen treffen om dergelijke incidenten in de toekomst te voorkomen.
Waarom verontschuldigde de directie zich?
De passage vermeldt expliciet dat de directie zich 'uitvoerig heeft geëxcuseerd voor de recente communicatiestoornis'.
De passage vermeldt expliciet dat de directie zich 'uitvoerig heeft geëxcuseerd voor de recente communicatiestoornis'.
Welke actie ondernamen de ontwikkelaars nadat ze hun excuses hadden aangeboden?
Read this passage:
Na een grondig onderzoek bleek dat de softwarefout de oorzaak was van de storing. De ontwikkelaars boden hun oprechte excuses aan voor het ongemak en werkten met man en macht aan een snelle oplossing. Gebruikers kregen een compensatie aangeboden voor het geleden nadeel.
Welke actie ondernamen de ontwikkelaars nadat ze hun excuses hadden aangeboden?
De tekst stelt: 'De ontwikkelaars boden hun oprechte excuses aan voor het ongemak en werkten met man en macht aan een snelle oplossing.'
De tekst stelt: 'De ontwikkelaars boden hun oprechte excuses aan voor het ongemak en werkten met man en macht aan een snelle oplossing.'
Waarom betuigde de burgemeester haar spijt?
Read this passage:
De burgemeester heeft officieel haar spijt betuigd aan de getroffen bewoners na de overstromingen. Ze erkende dat de communicatie vanuit de gemeente tekortgeschoten was en beloofde een onafhankelijk onderzoek in te stellen om de oorzaken te achterhalen en de respons te verbeteren.
Waarom betuigde de burgemeester haar spijt?
De passage vermeldt: 'Ze erkende dat de communicatie vanuit de gemeente tekortgeschoten was'.
De passage vermeldt: 'Ze erkende dat de communicatie vanuit de gemeente tekortgeschoten was'.
/ 48 correct
Perfect score!
When to say 'sorry'
Just like in English, 'sorry' is used in Dutch when you want to apologize for a small mistake or inconvenience. Think of bumping into someone lightly or interrupting. It's a quick and easy way to acknowledge a small error.
Pronunciation of 'sorry'
The pronunciation of 'sorry' in Dutch is very similar to English. The 'o' sound is a bit more open, like in the word cot, and the 'r' is slightly rolled, but it's easily understood even with an English accent.
Alternatives to 'sorry'
For more serious apologies, you'll hear 'het spijt me' (I'm sorry) or 'mijn excuses' (my apologies). 'Sorry' is best for lighter situations. Remember, 'sorry' is a direct borrowing from English.
Dutch directness and 'sorry'
The Dutch are known for being direct. This means that sometimes an apology might not be as elaborate as in other cultures. A simple 'sorry' is often enough and appreciated.
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aandringen
B1To demand something repeatedly
aangaan
B1To begin a process or relationship
aanmoedigen
B1To give support or confidence to someone
aanzien
B1The way one is regarded by others
afkeuren
B2To express disapproval of something
afkomst
B2The origin or background of a person
afspreken
B2To agree on a time or place to meet
alsjeblieft
A1Please or here you go.
arrogant
C1Having an exaggerated sense of one's own importance
attentie
B1A small gift or sign of attention
